Right Whales and Ships: Can They Coexist? Gerald Leape Vice President for Marine Conservation National Environmental Trust

Mountain gorilla: about 600 continue to survive in the rainy mountain forests of Uganda. Snow leopard: between 3000 and 7000 found in the high mountains of central Asia.

North Atlantic right whale Classified as endangered both internationally and in U.S. Classified as endangered both internationally and in U.S. One of world’s most endangered large whales. One of world’s most endangered large whales. Protected under U.S. law: ESA, MMPA. Protected under U.S. law: ESA, MMPA. Only remaining. Only remaining. Extinction projected without drastic action. Extinction projected without drastic action.

Entanglement in fishing gear

Ship strikes

Urban whales north Breed and feed in nearshore waters off RI, MA, NH, ME, CA Breed and feed in nearshore waters off RI, MA, NH, ME, CA High traffic areas are prime feeding habitat: Great South Channel and Mass Bay, Bay of Fundy High traffic areas are prime feeding habitat: Great South Channel and Mass Bay, Bay of Fundy

Urban whales south Calve in shallow warmer waters off Florida/Georgia coast. Calve in shallow warmer waters off Florida/Georgia coast. Feeding, resting, socializing bring them to surface often. Feeding, resting, socializing bring them to surface often.

How can we be certain ship strikes are to blame? Coastwide aerial surveys. Coastwide aerial surveys. Every carcass necropsied by expert team of scientists. Every carcass necropsied by expert team of scientists. Births, deaths, sightings all maintained in database. Births, deaths, sightings all maintained in database.

Crisis? At least 8 right whale deaths over past 18 months. At least 8 right whale deaths over past 18 months. At least 4 ship strikes. At least 4 ship strikes. Three times average mortality rate. Three times average mortality rate.

Long-term impacts Five of 8 recent mortalities mature females. Five of 8 recent mortalities mature females. At least 3 pregnant. At least 3 pregnant. Represents loss of more than 5% of total female breeding population. Represents loss of more than 5% of total female breeding population.

Northern locations of recent whale mortalities

Southern locations of recent right whale mortalities

What can we do??

Legal obligations Both ESA and MMPA require NOAA Fisheries to protect and recover right whales. Both ESA and MMPA require NOAA Fisheries to protect and recover right whales. MMPA “potential biological removal” = 0 MMPA “potential biological removal” = 0

Emergency regulations: speed Data indicate speeds 13 knots or less give right whales enough time to react and avoid ships. Data indicate speeds 13 knots or less give right whales enough time to react and avoid ships. All ships leaving/entering East Coast ports should travel at 12 knots or less within 25 nautical miles of shore during peak whale use periods. All ships leaving/entering East Coast ports should travel at 12 knots or less within 25 nautical miles of shore during peak whale use periods. –Nov 1 to April 30 Florida north to RI –Jan 1 to May 31 in Cape Cod Bay –Jan 1 to July 31 in Great South Channel and Boston Separation Scheme

Emergency regulations: DAMs Dynamic management areas Dynamic management areas –In other areas when large aggregations of right whales are identified. –Should include re-routing and/or speeds of 12 knots or less.

The right thing to do Difficult for industry Difficult for industry Competitive disadvantges Competitive disadvantges Better if permanent? Better if permanent? Mariners are concerned with protecting endangered marine species. Mariners are concerned with protecting endangered marine species.